
          perlatus or finbriates was worth a great deal more than its
 weight in gold. He had rec'd [received] it from different parts of Europe
 but had never before seen the fructification. Thought [Erik] Acharius[']
 Synopsis [i.e. Synopsis methodica lichenum] the best book on this subject, but that he was not good
 in the decription of species. Botanists were running wild after
 Nat. Orders, which with their multiplied members prevented
 species being accurately discriminated. Did not however condemn
 the study of Nat. orders, tho't [thought] it necessary. Was himself writing
 a history of lichens-- did not intend to follow the distrib'n [distribution] of
 Acharius. Intended to write also a Flora Britannica in 
 English with the design of reforming the language. Said
 he had written [DeWitt] Clinton a letter, and asked if he was still Gover'r [Governor].
 Tho't [Thought] that the U.S. was rising to great eminence in Science-- hoped
 that his country was not at the same time declining, said Her
 Universities were injured by giving professorships to persons not
 properly qualified. That of Edin. [University of Edinburgh] in particular has suff'd [suffered] by
 the practice of giving to sons the places of their fathers before
 they were competent to fill them.


 Dr. [Jacob] Bigelow he
 said had greatly tantalized him [crossed out: by] in his account if his excursion
 to the White Hills by speaking of "umbilicated lichens", he wanted
 to know more about them, asked me if there was no limestone
 in these mountains, while I could not answer.


 He appears to be about 60, middle size, rather corpulent
 and round shouldered. The busts & portraits I have seen do not give a
 good idea of his countenance. He has a heavy, rather a sleepy
 look, & is very fat about the lower part of his face and under the
 chin. [Robert] Brown is I believe considered the greater Botanist.
 I do not know whether I shall accept his invitation to Norwich,

        